First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
| Enter Bastard, and Curan, seuerally. | Enter Edmund and Curan by opposite doors | | KL II.i.1 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Saue thee Curan. | Save thee, Curan. | | KL II.i.1 | |
| Cur. | CURAN | | | |
| And your Sir, I haue bin / With your Father, and | And you, sir. I have been with your father and | | KL II.i.2 | |
| giuen him notice / That the Duke of Cornwall, and Regan | given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan | | KL II.i.3 | |
| his Duchesse / Will be here with him this night. | his Duchess will be here with him this night. | | KL II.i.4 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| How comes that? | How comes that? | | KL II.i.5 | |
| Cur. | CURAN | | | |
| Nay I know not, you haue heard of the newes | Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news | | KL II.i.6 | |
| abroad, I meane the whisper'd ones, for they are yet but | abroad – I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but | abroad (adv.) in the outside world, freely at large, elsewhere, everywhere | KL II.i.7 | |
| ear-kissing arguments. | ear-kissing arguments? | ear-bussing (adj.) ear-kissing, reaching the ear only as rumours | KL II.i.8 | |
| | argument (n.) subject of conversation, subject-matter, topic | | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Not I: pray you what are they? | Not I. Pray you what are they? | | KL II.i.9 | |
| Cur. | CURAN | | | |
| Haue you heard of no likely Warres toward, / 'Twixt | Have you heard of no likely wars toward 'twixt | toward (adv.) impending, forthcoming, in preparation | KL II.i.10 | |
| the Dukes of Cornwall, and Albany? | the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany? | | KL II.i.11 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Not a word. | Not a word. | | KL II.i.12 | |
| Cur. | CURAN | | | |
| You may do then in time, / Fare you well Sir. | You may do, then, in time. Fare you well, sir. | fare ... well (int.) goodbye [to an individual] | KL II.i.13 | |
| Exit. | Exit | | KL II.i.13 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| The Duke be here to night? The better best, | The Duke be here tonight! The better! best! | | KL II.i.14 | |
| This weaues it selfe perforce into my businesse, | This weaves itself perforce into my business. | perforce (adv.) of necessity, with no choice in the matter | KL II.i.15 | |
| My Father hath set guard to take my Brother, | My father hath set guard to take my brother, | | KL II.i.16 | |
| And I haue one thing of a queazie question | And I have one thing of a queasy question | question (n.) point at issue, problem, business | KL II.i.17 | |
| | queasy (adj.) uncertain, hazardous; or: delicate, ticklish | | |
| Which I must act, Briefenesse, and Fortune worke. | Which I must act. Briefness and fortune work! – | briefness (n.) speedy action, promptness | KL II.i.18 | |
| Brother, a word, discend; Brother I say, | Brother, a word! Descend! Brother, I say! | | KL II.i.19 | |
| Enter Edgar. | Enter Edgar | | KL II.i.20.1 | |
| My Father watches: O Sir, fly this place, | My father watches. O, sir, fly this place; | watch (v.) keep the watch, keep guard, be on the lookout | KL II.i.20 | |
| Intelligence is giuen where you are hid; | Intelligence is given where you are hid. | intelligence (n.) information, news, communication | KL II.i.21 | |
| You haue now the good aduantage of the night, | You have now the good advantage of the night. | | KL II.i.22 | |
| Haue you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornewall? | Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall? | | KL II.i.23 | |
| Hee's comming hither, now i'th'night, i'th'haste, | He's coming hither now, i'the night, i'th' haste, | | KL II.i.24 | |
| And Regan with him, haue you nothing said | And Regan with him. Have you nothing said | | KL II.i.25 | |
| Vpon his partie 'gainst the Duke of Albany? | Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany? | party (n.) side, faction, camp | KL II.i.26 | |
| | upon (prep.) on the side of | | |
| Aduise your selfe. | Advise yourself. | advise, avise (v.) consider, take thought, reflect | KL II.i.27.1 | |
| Edg. | EDGAR | | | |
| I am sure on't, not a word. | I am sure on't, not a word. | | KL II.i.27.2 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| I heare my Father comming, pardon me: | I hear my father coming. Pardon me; | | KL II.i.28 | |
| In cunning, I must draw my Sword vpon you: | In cunning I must draw my sword upon you. | cunning (n.) ploy, ruse, clever device | KL II.i.29 | |
| Draw, seeme to defend your selfe, / Now quit you well. | Draw! Seem to defend yourself! Now quit you well. | quit (v.) acquit, do one's part, bear [oneself] | KL II.i.30 | |
| (Aloud) | | KL II.i.31 | |
| Yeeld, come before my Father, light hoa, here, | Yield! Come before my father! Light, ho, here! | | KL II.i.31 | |
| Fly Brother, Torches, Torches, so farewell. | (Aside) Fly, brother! (Aloud) Torches, torches! (Aside) So farewell. | | KL II.i.32 | |
| Exit Edgar. | Exit Edgar | | KL II.i.32 | |
| Some blood drawne on me, would beget opinion | Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion | beget (v.), past form begot produce, engender, give rise to | KL II.i.33 | |
| Of my more fierce endeauour. I haue seene drunkards | Of my more fierce endeavour. I have seen drunkards | | KL II.i.34 | |
| Do more then this in sport; | Do more than this in sport. | sport (n.) recreation, amusement, entertainment | KL II.i.35.1 | |
| He wounds himself in the arm | | KL II.i.35 | |
| (Aloud) | | KL II.i.35 | |
| Father, Father, | Father, father! – | | KL II.i.35.2 | |
| Stop, stop, no helpe? | Stop, stop! – No help? | | KL II.i.36.1 | |
| Enter Gloster, and Seruants with Torches. | Enter Gloucester and servants with torches | | KL II.i.36.2 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| Now Edmund, where's the villaine? | Now, Edmund, where's the villain? | | KL II.i.36 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Here stood he in the dark, his sharpe Sword out, | Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out, | | KL II.i.37 | |
| Mumbling of wicked charmes, coniuring the Moone | Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon | | KL II.i.38 | |
| To stand auspicious Mistris. | To stand auspicious mistress. | stand (v.) act as, be, hold good as | KL II.i.39.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| But where is he? | But where is he? | | KL II.i.39.2 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Looke Sir, I bleed. | Look, sir, I bleed. | | KL II.i.40.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| Where is the villaine, Edmund? | Where is the villain, Edmund? | | KL II.i.40.2 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Fled this way Sir, when by no meanes he could. | Fled this way, sir, when by no means he could – | | KL II.i.41 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| Pursue him, ho: go after. | Pursue him, ho! Go after. | | KL II.i.42.1 | |
| Exeunt some servants | | KL II.i.42 | |
| By no meanes, what? | ‘ By no means ’ what? | | KL II.i.42.2 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Perswade me to the murther of your Lordship, | Persuade me to the murder of your lordship; | | KL II.i.43 | |
| But that I told him the reuenging Gods, | But that I told him the revenging gods | | KL II.i.44 | |
| 'Gainst Paricides did all the thunder bend, | 'Gainst parricides did all the thunder bend, | parricide (n.) patricide, murder of a father | KL II.i.45 | |
| | bend (v.) aim, direct, level, turn | | |
| Spoke with how manifold, and strong a Bond | Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond | | KL II.i.46 | |
| The Child was bound to'th'Father; Sir in fine, | The child was bound to the father – sir, in fine, | fine, in in the end, finally, in conclusion | KL II.i.47 | |
| Seeing how lothly opposite I stood | Seeing how loathly opposite I stood | opposite (adj.) opposed, hostile, adverse, antagonistic [to] | KL II.i.48 | |
| | loathly (adv.) with such loathing, with detestation | | |
| To his vnnaturall purpose, in fell motion | To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion | motion (n.) [fencing] attack, execution | KL II.i.49 | |
| | purpose (n.) intention, aim, plan | | |
| | fell (adj.) cruel, fierce, savage | | |
| | unnatural (adj.) against natural feeling, not in accord with kinship | | |
| With his prepared Sword, he charges home | With his prepared sword he charges home | prepared (adj.) drawn, ready for action | KL II.i.50 | |
| | home (adv.) fully, thoroughly, unsparingly | | |
| My vnprouided body, latch'd mine arme; | My unprovided body, latched mine arm: | latch (v.) catch, nick | KL II.i.51 | |
| | unprovided (adj.) unprepared, unprotected, undefended | | |
| And when he saw my best alarum'd spirits | But when he saw my best alarumed spirits | alarumed (adj.) galvanized, activated, stirred to action | KL II.i.52 | |
| Bold in the quarrels right, rouz'd to th'encounter, | Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to th' encounter, | right (n.) justice, rightfulness, justification | KL II.i.53 | |
| Or whether gasted by the noyse I made, | Or whether gasted by the noise I made, | gast (v.) frighten, alarm, scare | KL II.i.54 | |
| Full sodainely he fled. | Full suddenly he fled. | | KL II.i.55.1 | |
| Glost. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| Let him fly farre: | Let him fly far, | | KL II.i.55.2 | |
| Not in this Land shall he remaine vncaught | Not in this land shall he remain uncaught; | | KL II.i.56 | |
| And found; dispatch, the Noble Duke my Master, | And found – dispatch. The noble Duke, my master, | dispatch, despatch (v.) deal with promptly, settle, get [something] done quickly | KL II.i.57 | |
| My worthy Arch and Patron comes to night, | My worthy arch and patron, comes tonight. | arch (n.) chief, master, lord | KL II.i.58 | |
| By his authoritie I will proclaime it, | By his authority I will proclaim it | | KL II.i.59 | |
| That he which finds him shall deserue our thankes, | That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks, | | KL II.i.60 | |
| Bringing the murderous Coward to the stake: | Bringing the murderous coward to the stake; | stake (n.) place of execution | KL II.i.61 | |
| He that conceales him death. | He that conceals him, death. | | KL II.i.62 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| When I disswaded him from his intent, | When I dissuaded him from his intent, | intent (n.) intention, purpose, aim | KL II.i.63 | |
| And found him pight to doe it, with curst speech | And found him pight to do it, with curst speech | pight (adj.) determined, set, fixed | KL II.i.64 | |
| | curst (adj.) angry, furious, fierce | | |
| I threaten'd to discouer him; he replied, | I threatened to discover him. He replied, | discover (v.) expose, uncover, give away | KL II.i.65 | |
| Thou vnpossessing Bastard, dost thou thinke, | ‘ Thou unpossessing bastard, dost thou think, | unpossessing (adj.) unable to inherit property | KL II.i.66 | |
| If I would stand against thee, would the reposall | If I would stand against thee, would the reposal | reposal (n.) reposing, placing, desposit | KL II.i.67 | |
| Ofany trust, vertue, or worth in thee | Of any trust, virtue, or worth in thee | | KL II.i.68 | |
| Make thy words faith'd? No, what should I denie, | Make thy words faithed? No, what I should deny – | faith (v.) believe, trust, credit | KL II.i.69 | |
| (As this I would, though thou didst produce | As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce | | KL II.i.70 | |
| My very Character) I'ld turne it all | My very character – I'd turn it all | character (n.) handwriting, style of writing, lettering | KL II.i.71 | |
| To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practise: | To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice; | practice (n.) scheme, plot, stratagem, intrigue | KL II.i.72 | |
| | suggestion (n.) temptation, instigation, prompting towards evil | | |
| And thou must make a dullard of the world, | And thou must make a dullard of the world | | KL II.i.73 | |
| If they not thought the profits of my death | If they not thought the profits of my death | | KL II.i.74 | |
| Were very pregnant and potentiall spirits | Were very pregnant and potential spurs | pregnant (adj.) meaningful, compelling, convincing | KL II.i.75 | |
| | potential (adj.) powerful, mighty, strong | | |
| To make thee seeke it. | To make thee seek it.’ | | KL II.i.76.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| O strange and fastned Villaine, | O strange and fastened villain! | fastened (adj.) determined, steadfast, confirmed | KL II.i.76.2 | |
| | strange (adj.) remarkable, startling, abnormal, unnatural | | |
| | strong (adj.) [Q variant] flagrant, barefaced; or: resolute, determined | | |
| Would he deny his Letter, said he? | Would he deny his letter, said he? I never got him. | get (v.) beget, conceive, breed | KL II.i.77 | |
| Tucket within. | Tucket within | | KL II.i.78 | |
| Harke, the Dukes Trumpets, I know not wher he comes.; | Hark, the Duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes. – | | KL II.i.78 | |
| All Ports Ile barre, the villaine shall not scape, | All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape. | port (n.) portal, entrance, gateway | KL II.i.79 | |
| | scape, 'scape (v.) escape, avoid | | |
| The Duke must grant me that: besides, his picture | The Duke must grant me that. Besides, his picture | picture (n.) description | KL II.i.80 | |
| I will send farre and neere, that all the kingdome | I will send far and near, that all the kingdom | | KL II.i.81 | |
| May haue due note of him, and of my land, | May have due note of him; and of my land, | | KL II.i.82 | |
| (Loyall and naturall Boy) Ile worke the meanes | Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means | natural (adj.) feeling proper affection, having normal feelings | KL II.i.83 | |
| | loyal (adj.) legitimate; faithful | | |
| To make thee capable. | To make thee capable. | capable (adj.) able to inherit, entitled to possess property | KL II.i.84 | |
| Enter Cornewall, Regan, and Attendants. | Enter Cornwall, Regan, and attendants | | KL II.i.85 | |
| Corn. | CORNWALL | | | |
| How now my Noble friend, since I came hither | How now, my noble friend? Since I came hither – | | KL II.i.85 | |
| (Which I can call but now,) I haue heard strangenesse. | Which I can call but now – I have heard strange news. | | KL II.i.86 | |
| Reg. | REGAN | | | |
| If it be true, all vengeance comes too short | If it be true, all vengeance comes too short | | KL II.i.87 | |
| Which can pursue th'offender; how dost my Lord? | Which can pursue th' offender. How dost, my lord? | | KL II.i.88 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| O Madam, my old heart is crack'd, it's crack'd. | O madam, my old heart is cracked; it's cracked. | cracked (adj.) broken, crushed, fractured | KL II.i.89 | |
| Reg. | REGAN | | | |
| What, did my Fathers Godsonne seeke your life? | What, did my father's godson seek your life? | | KL II.i.90 | |
| He whom my Father nam'd, your Edgar? | He whom my father named? your Edgar? | | KL II.i.91 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| O Lady, Lady, shame would haue it hid. | O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid! | | KL II.i.92 | |
| Reg. | REGAN | | | |
| Was he not companion with the riotous Knights | Was he not companion with the riotous knights | | KL II.i.93 | |
| That tended vpon my Father? | That tended upon my father? | tend on / upon (v.) serve, follow, wait upon, escort | KL II.i.94 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| I know not Madam, 'tis too bad, too bad. | I know not, madam. 'Tis too bad, too bad! | | KL II.i.95 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| Yes Madam, he was of that consort. | Yes, madam, he was of that consort. | consort (n.) company, mob, crew | KL II.i.96 | |
| Reg. | REGAN | | | |
| No maruaile then, though he were ill affected, | No marvel then though he were ill affected. | ill (adv.) badly, adversely, unfavourably | KL II.i.97 | |
| | affected (adj.) disposed, inclined, minded | | |
| 'Tis they haue put him on the old mans death, | 'Tis they have put him on the old man's death, | put on (v.) instigate, provoke, incite | KL II.i.98 | |
| To haue th'expence and wast of his Reuenues: | To have th' expense and waste of his revenues. | expense (n.) spending, using up, laying out | KL II.i.99 | |
| | revenue (n.) income, yield, profit | | |
| I haue this present euening from my Sister | I have this present evening from my sister | | KL II.i.100 | |
| Beene well inform'd of them, and with such cautions, | Been well informed of them, and with such cautions | | KL II.i.101 | |
| That if they come to soiourne at my house, | That if they come to sojourn at my house | sojourn (v.) pause, reside, stay for a while | KL II.i.102 | |
| Ile not be there. | I'll not be there. | | KL II.i.103.1 | |
| Cor. | CORNWALL | | | |
| Nor I, assure thee Regan; | Nor I, assure thee, Regan. | | KL II.i.103.2 | |
| Edmund, I heare that you haue shewne yout Father | Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father | | KL II.i.104 | |
| A Child-like Office. | A child-like office. | office (n.) task, service, duty, responsibility | KL II.i.105.1 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| It was my duty Sir. | It was my duty, sir. | | KL II.i.105.2 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| He did bewray his practise, and receiu'd | He did bewray his practice, and received | practice (n.) trickery, treachery | KL II.i.106 | |
| | bewray (v.) betray, reveal, expose | | |
| This hurt you see, striuing to apprehend him. | This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him. | | KL II.i.107 | |
| Cor. | CORNWALL | | | |
| Is he pursued? | Is he pursued? | | KL II.i.108.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| I my good Lord. | Ay, my good lord. | | KL II.i.108.2 | |
| Cor. | CORNWALL | | | |
| If he be taken, he shall neuer more | If he be taken he shall never more | | KL II.i.109 | |
| Be fear'd of doing harme, make your owne purpose, | Be feared of doing harm. Make your own purpose | purpose (n.) intention, aim, plan | KL II.i.110 | |
| How in my strength you please: for you Edmund, | How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund, | strength (n.) troops, forces, resources, followers | KL II.i.111 | |
| Whose vertue and obedience doth this instant | Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant | | KL II.i.112 | |
| So much commend it selfe, you shall be ours, | So much commend itself, you shall be ours. | commend (v.) present, introduce, bring [for favourable acceptance] | KL II.i.113 | |
| Nature's of such deepe trust, we shall much need: | Natures of such deep trust we shall much need; | nature (n.) personality, innate disposition, character | KL II.i.114 | |
| You we first seize on. | You we first seize on. | | KL II.i.115.1 | |
| Bast. | EDMUND | | | |
| I shall serue you Sir | I shall serve you, sir, | | KL II.i.115.2 | |
| truely, how euer else. | Truly, however else. | | KL II.i.116.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| For him I thanke your Grace. | For him I thank your grace. | | KL II.i.116.2 | |
| Cor. | CORNWALL | | | |
| You know not why we came to visit you? | You know not why we came to visit you – | | KL II.i.117 | |
| Reg. | REGAN | | | |
| Thus out of season, thredding darke ey'd night, | Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night – | season, out of (adj./adv.) inopportunely, inappropriately, inconveniently | KL II.i.118 | |
| | thread (v.) trace a path through, make a way through | | |
| Occasions Noble Gloster of some prize, | Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some price, | occasion (n.) ground, reason, cause, matter | KL II.i.119 | |
| | price (n.) value, worth, importance | | |
| | poise (n.) [Q variant] weight, importance, gravity | | |
| Wherein we must haue vse of your aduise. | Wherein we must have use of your advice. | | KL II.i.120 | |
| Our Father he hath writ, so hath our Sister, | Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister, | | KL II.i.121 | |
| Of differences, which I best though it fit | Of differences, which I best thought it fit | | KL II.i.122 | |
| To answere from our home: the seuerall Messengers | To answer from our home. The several messengers | several (adj.) various, sundry, respective, individual | KL II.i.123 | |
| From hence attend dispatch, our good old Friend, | From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, | dispatch, despatch (n.) dismissal, leave to go | KL II.i.124 | |
| | attend (v.) await, wait for, expect | | |
| Lay comforts to your bosome, and bestow | Lay comforts to your bosom, and bestow | | KL II.i.125 | |
| Your needfull counsaile to our businesses, | Your needful counsel to our businesses, | | KL II.i.126 | |
| Which craues the instant vse. | Which craves the instant use. | crave (v.) need, demand, require | KL II.i.127.1 | |
| Glo. | GLOUCESTER | | | |
| I serue you Madam, | I serve you, madam. | | KL II.i.127.2 | |
| Your Graces are right welcome. | Your graces are right welcome. | | KL II.i.128 | |
| Exeunt. Flourish. | Exeunt | | KL II.i.128 | |